"At a mile distant their thousand hooves were stuttering thunder, coming at a rate that frightened a man - they were an awe inspiring sight, galloping through the red haze - knee to knee and horse to horse - the dying sun glinting on bayonet points..." Trooper Ion Idriess
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Sunday, 21 September 2008
10th LHR Routine Order No 10, 8 November 1914, Page 1 Topic: AIF - 3B - 10 LHR
Apart from the War Diary which presents a reflected view of Regimental history, one of the best sources of understanding the immediate challenges facing a regiment is to be found in the Routine Orders. They are a wealth of detail. Over the following weeks, the Routine Orders for the 10th Light Horse Regiment will be posted. They are an almost complete collection from commencement as 7th Light Horse Regiment, "C" Squadron to reformation as the 10th Light Horse Regiment. It tells the story of the regiment in a way never touched by a unit history. What is revealed is the day to day lives faced by the men in the Regiment. It lists the highs and lows but in so doing, is the history of the common man.
10th LHR Routine Order No 10, 8 November 1914, Page 1
The following weeks will see the various pages from the Hotchkiss Portable Machine Gun Handbook, the official manual issued by the company for the use of troops in the field. The Hotchkiss Gun was introduced in the Light Horse formations during the early months of 1917. The introduction of this robust and portable gun gave the Light Horse Regiments additional mobile fire power which considereably added to their ability to sustain light combat situations and defend against vastly numerically superior forces. Apart from being an excellent weapon, it was in much demand by the Turkish forces who considered the capture of a Hotchkiss Gun well worth any risks involved in the process. This is a manual produced in 1917 and illustrates the method by which the Hotchkiss Gun was packed and moved throughout the Palestine campaign.
Another entry from the book written by Lieutenant Colonel Hüseyin Hüsnü Emir, called Yildirim. Every day, one page of the book will be posted. This is Page 76.
Diaries of AIF Servicemen, Bert Schramm, 21 September 1918 Topic: Diary - Schramm
Diaries of AIF Servicemen
Bert Schramm
21 September 1918
Bert Schramm
2823 Private Herbert Leslie SCHRAMM, a 22 year old Farmer from Whites River, South Australia. He enlisted on 17 February 1916; and at the conclusion of the war Returned to Australia, 10 July 1919.
During part of the course of his military service with the AIF, Bert Schramm kept a diary of his life. Bert was not a man of letters so this diary was produced with great effort on his behalf. Bert made a promise to his sweetheart, Lucy Solley, that he would do so after he received the blank pocket notebook wherein these entries are found. As a Brigade Scout since September 1918, he took a lead part in the September Offensive by the Allied forces in Palestine. Bert's diary entries are placed alongside those of the 9th Light Horse Regiment to which he belonged and to the 3rd Light Horse Brigade to which the 9th LHR was attached. On this basis we can follow Bert in the context of his formation.
The Diaries
The complete diary is now available on the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre Site at:
Bert Schramm's Handwritten Diary, 18 - 22 September 1918
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
Bert Schramm
Saturday, September 21, 1918
Bert Schramm's Location - Jenin
Bert Schramm's Diary -We took a railway centre last evening called El Jenin and have the enemy properly on the run. He is badly demoralised. Our Brigade captured five thousand prisoners this afternoon. We are holding all roads leading from this town. Today at 3 pm our prisoners numbered something over seven thousand.
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary
9th Light Horse Regiment Location - Jenin
9th Light Horse Regiment War Diary - At 0100, A Squadron moved out to assist 10th Light Horse Regiment in collecting prisoners who were surrendering in large numbers.
By daylight about 7,000 prisoners had been taken by the Brigade. At 0500, the Regiment, less A Squadron, moved and occupied aerodrome west of Jenin near the railway station. Here A Squadron rejoined the Regiment. A and B Squadron were sent into the town to clear the town of stragglers, about 300 more prisoners being sent to compound on railway. An enormous quantity of war material was captured. Most of the aeroplanes had been destroyed but one was left intact on the aerodrome north east of the town. The streets in the town of Jenin were blocked with abandoned transport and stores and the contents littered around. Much looting had been done by the inhabitants and later in the day became so serious that orders were issued that after warning all those caught looting were to be shot.
An enemy gun was located by Cozens, 396 Armourer Sergeant EL, near railway station, a 10.4 centimetre gun with the markings M15 KAN No 342.
About 120 cases of German Champagne was found by B Squadron patrol near railway station and a guard was placed thereon. Some of this champagne was later distributed to the troops.
At 1100 the regiment moved to just north of the orchards outside village and bivouacked. Town guards and patrols were supplied.
Prisoners were still coming in. Cozens, 396 Armourer Sergeant EL, spent a busy morning collecting suitable articles for Australian War Trophies Museum.
Nelson, Captain AH, detailed to carry out duties of Military Governor, Jenin. Many of the Turkish and German officer prisoners admitted being taken completely by surprise at our unexpected appearance across the northern exits of Jenin stating that they thought we must have landed at Haifa, never believing it possible that we could have moved up the coast so rapidly.
1900 The Regiment [less town guards and picquets] with 3rd Machine Gun Squadron moved to one mile north of Jenin and bivouacked the night. Total prisoners taken by Brigade during the past 24 hours was reported to be 8,000.
3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary
[Wilson, Brigadier General LC, captures a field gun.]
At dawn while looking around the outskirts of the town in the neighbourhood of the railway station, the Brigadier, Aide De Camp, and Orderly came upon a batch of 40 Turkish soldiers and a 10 cm gun. The former were waiting quietly to be collected. This was duly done by a few men from the 9th Light Horse Regiment who were sent for.
At 0700 the 8th Light Horse Regiment arrived and took charge of the prisoners escorting them back to El Lejjun. Guards were posted on captured material and patrols sent out to stop looting by the Arabs. The streets of Jenin were blocked with abandoned transport, and their loads and stores were littered about. Much looting had been done by the inhabitants. The 10th Light Horse Regiment remained on observation of the approaches to the town from the south, south east and south west. The Turkish and German hospitals were full with sick and wounded. Guards were posted here and the cases fit to travel evacuated by lorry. A number of motor vehicles had been captured and these proved useful for collecting material and sick and wounded prisoners. Orders were issued for the 10th Light Horse Regiment to send down one squadron via Beit Kad, to reconnoitre country towards Beisan, and capture small parties of enemy reported to be in that area, and for the 9th Light Horse Regiment to send one troop south along the Nablus road to gain touch with the 5th Light Horse Brigade. During the day a number of enemy straggles were rounded up and brought in. A and Bi echelon marched in.
Nominal Roll, AWM133, Nominal Roll of Australian Imperial Force who left Australia for service abroad, 1914-1918 War.
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